CN Guidance welcomes Arnie, a facility dog from America's VetDogs to support community wellness.

CN Guidance & Counseling Services has added Arnie, a 4-year-old facility dog from America's VetDogs, to its team to support clients and staff through animal-assisted therapy, while the nonprofit continues to provide mental health and substance use services across Long Island including a 24-hour community crisis center.

CN Guidance & Counseling Services has added Arnie, a 4-year-old black Labrador Retriever from America's VetDogs, to its team as a facility dog to support clients and staff through animal-assisted therapy. The placement follows a partnership between CN Guidance, a Long Island nonprofit that provides mental health and substance use treatment, and America's VetDogs, a national nonprofit that trains and places service and facility dogs. CN Guidance serves communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties, offering a range of services including individual therapy, support groups, mobile services, specialized housing, and a 24-hour Community Crisis Center for adults and children ages 5 and up. America's VetDogs provides facility dogs to institutions and medical centers at no charge to the facility. Key facts: - Arnie is a 4-year-old black Labrador Retriever trained as a facility dog by America's VetDogs. - Arnie's trained behaviors include shake, salute, rest (laying his head on a person's lap for grounding), bop (a simulated high-five or knuckle-touch), and hug to provide comfort to multiple people. - CN Guidance employs more than 400 staff and reports serving over 20,000 individuals per year across Long Island. - CN Guidance operates a 24-hour Community Crisis Center designed as a soothing alternative to an emergency room for ages 5 and older. - America's VetDogs is a nonprofit that trains and places service and facility dogs free of charge to facilities and is accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. - The article notes Arnie has dedicated social accounts under the handle @arniethewellnessdog. Summary: Arnie will be integrated into CN Guidance's clinical and crisis settings to offer comfort and grounding support to clients and staff as part of the organization's animal-assisted therapy efforts. The partnership connects CN Guidance's local behavioral health programs with America's VetDogs' facility dog training. Undetermined at this time.